harvesting a half-seeded plant

[mozartk332]

hey everyone, i have a bit of a situation that i just couldn't find an answer to via the search tool. I've been working on these 3 plants for about 11 weeks now and they are well into flowing. from the samples i've taken they should be ready for a 2 week flush and then harvest some time this week or next.

the problem i have is that at about 4 weeks into flowing the two largest plants hermied. i was able to pick off the pollen sacks and the symptoms subsided. the plants continued to flower strong, however i was too late on one or two of the sacks and a few of the lower buds were pollinated.

now the seeds look just about mature and the buds that have these seeds have red hairs and are abundant with trikes. however, the top cola is simply still growing out and the hairs are just thick and white still with very little trichome activity. plants 2 and 3 however are just fine with very few seeds and milky triches just covering the plant.

i guess the problem that i have here is that the roots have all grown into a big ol root ball together so if i harvest one i have to harvest all 3. but i feel like the seeded one will need more time to get thick with resin before i chop it. should i clip the mature seeded buds to allow the virgins to continue growth? or would this just stress the crap out of it ultimately damaging yield? i don't know what to do. clearly i have a bit of a conundrum on my hands. any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

thanks in advance.

[frostedwonder]

I had something similar happen and I wished I would have left mine grow a bit longer regardless of seeds. You will have them not many but some. Definitely take a look at your trichomes with a macro lens or jewelery loop to see if they have more then 50% amber colored trichs just to be sure. I have a big cola that had about 6 seeds in it but when smoked it just wasn't strong enough for me so I think maybe if I had grown it longer it would have helped.. just a thought either way remember this is suppose to be fun..:jointsmile:

[Rusty Trichome]

I'd harvest the plants that are ready, but leave a stump (6" or so per plant) with some undernourished buds on each so the roots have something to do other than die and rot. A few buds with small leaves should continue the growth, but keep an eye out for new nanners. This might gain you enough time to finish the mom.

Selective harvesting may stress the mom again and compound the issues. I'd leave her alone and look carefully at her buds for additional nanners every once in a while.

The hairs (pistils) are turning red either because they are past their maturity, or it has already pollinated the embryo in the calyx....or because they have been damaged by wind, heat, breakage...

Since they are so close that the roots are intertwined, if one is pollinated they all are pollinated to some extent. (welcome to femmed seeds, btw)

[mozartk332]

well i just couldn't wait and went ahead and clipped the seeded nugs as the seeds looked mature and were popping out of the calyxes. we got about 100 seeds out of the deal so that'll be nice for my next grow. yes, fem seeds all the way! and yes both plants are pollenated but there were a few nugs on this one plant that were HEAVILY seeded. the rest of the plants have very few seeds throughout but there were 4 good ones that were just nothing but seeds.

hopefully this forces more growth up top and i can finish the plants. thanks for the quick replies.